I walked into Sugarcube Corner with Nero on my shoulder only to find there weren’t a whole lot of places to sit. I could see a number of the ponies keeping their eyes on me while still trying to look as if they were enjoying their food. It may not seem like it but most of the ponies here in town were still on the fence about trusting me. I mean, I did almost single-handedly destroy the park and then proceeded to walk out of a hundred-foot hole practically unscathed. That’s the main story since I been out of the hospital whenever I enter a room anywhere.

‘I don’t really know if it was that deep and don’t really care because it’s gone now. Pinkie might know. There she is now.’

“Hiya Astay and Nero,” Pinkie happily zipped over to me and Nero. “Sorry but we all filled up inside and Mr. and Mrs. Cake don’t allow animals inside the eating area. Which is odd because I often find Gummy in the kitchen.”

‘Gummy? What the heck is a Gummy?’

“Gummy is my alligator silly billy,” She popped up coming out if the side of my cane will hold a small green reptile with purple eyes that looked in opposite directions.

‘He looks as if he understands nothing but everything.’

“I think he might actually,” Pinkie put her pet in her back pocket.

“Pinkie,” I looked at her following her out the door and then over to one of the outdoor tables.

“Yessir, I’ll stop reading your mind and answering your internal questions,” She saluted. “Now, may I take your order?” She pulled a pen and pad from her hair.

“I’ll leave it up to you Pinkie,” I don’t really care right now. “Nero, you want anything in particular?”

… Nero was staring across the plaza. I notice the Gummy was standing next to her.

“Have you been watching the shadows to pretty bird?” Pinkie whisper-sang. “Gummy has been doing it all day. What about you Asta? Have you been watching the shadows?”

“Yes I have Pinkie,” She smiled at me as I twirled my cane. “And they’re really annoying me. I wish I could make clones to confuse them,” I leaned over to her and whispered.

“You can always use the Mirror Pool silly,” Pinkie chimed. “My Nana taught me a-” I placed a finger on her mouth.

“I can’t use magic Pinkie,” I huffed. “So, it’s completely out of the question. And even if I could make clones of myself I wouldn’t do it that way.”

‘Saw that episode to its completion. No thanks.’ I looked at Pinkie and then thought a bit before I spoke. “Pinkie, you and the other went to Twilight’s Brother’s wedding, right?”

“Of course, me and the girls, as well as a few of Cadence’s friends, were bridesmaids,” she scribbles on her notepad and showed me the doodle of the wedding and proceeded to explain in a flip cartoon. “And Twilight was Shining Armor’s best mare.”

“Do the Prince and Princess have their own kingdom?” I snickered. I noticed Nero was still staring across the street.

“Not yet silly but I think they will be very soon. Sorry to cut things short but duty calls,” Pinkie bounced away to tend to other customers.

“Looks like I landed pretty close to the end of season two and the beginning of season three,” I murmured. “That means the girls will be asked to go to the Crystal Empire. I hope I’m healed up before they do or at least enough I can go with them.” I interlaced my fingers and placed my hands over my mouth. I sensed one of the ki had moved over to a table’s shadow that was within listening range to me.

‘I have an idea.’ I smirked. ‘I wonder if they can still feel hot and cold,’ I was eyeing the hot coffee the mare at the table the ki’s shadow had ducked into. ‘You bastards wanna tail me then you’ll have to put up with crap from me. This’ll also confirm if I can hurt you in those shadow forms, should I have the need to.’ Pinkie came by with a red velvet cupcake with chocolate icing and cream cheese sprinkles. “Pinkie, this looks delicious. How you know my favorite was red velvet with chocolate?”

“You looked all broody and then you looked like you had some kind of scheme,” she giggled. “I know it probably has a lot to do with those odd moving shadows. I thought you could use some cheering up is all. Bathrooms are inside by the way,” She sang as she bounced slash danced away.

“They always say don’t question Pinkie. And I’ll take that to heart,” I started to get up but played as if I was having trouble as I reached for my cane. As soon as I made it up I reached out for the cane only for it to be on the other side of the table. ‘Perfect’. I leaned over still wobbling and-

CRASH!

“YOW! HOT!” I yelled as I came down on the other table. Luckily, the mare setting at it didn’t get hit with the scalding liquid. Luck for me the coffee didn’t burn nearly as much as those dame spells that hit me. I also saw a shadow quickly dart off across the street. “Take that you bastard.’

“Oh my gosh,” The patron whose coffee I spilled asked me. “Are you alright Mister?”

She was an earth pony that had raspberry colored hair and tail with lighter raspberry streaks in them while her eyes chartreuse green. She was wearing a pale yellow shirt with a rose on it with a pair of slim fit blue jeans and flip-flops. She was one of the local flower vendors.

“Yea, I'm fine. Could you hand me that please?” I pointed at my cane. She grabbed it and handed it over to me. “Sorry about your coffee Miss-”

“Roseluck, but everypony calls me Rose for short,” She held her hand out. “And it’s alright. Accidents happen. Take my hand,” I did so.

‘Hehehe. Yea. Accidents.’

“Thanks,” Rose helped me to my feet. Nero flew on to my shoulder after I steadied myself.

“I remember you now. You’re the one that fought with all those guards about …mmm… two weeks ago. What was your name again?” She was tapping the side of her. “Pasta?” She pointed at me.

“Hahaha. Close but no. You added a P. “I pointed at her. “My name’s Asta and this is is my friend Nero.”

Hoo.

“She said ‘It’s nice to meet you,’ “ I translated. Rose’s eyes got uber big.

“You can understand animals. That’s so cool. Wait a minute, you’re staying out at Fluttershy’s cottage aren’t you,” She looked over me suspicious. “Are you planning something? I know Flutter’s pretty good and she just doesn’t let anypony stay with her.”

“Hraahf!” I shook my head. “It’s Rainbow Dash and Applejack all over again.” I looked to the eyeballing pony. “Look Fluttershy is very sweet and I like her, a lot, I’m staying there until I can find a place of my own to build a house. I’m working with Rarity and Applejack to earn money and helping Fluttershy with her animals while I’m living there. Speaking of which, I need to get on my way. We needed the feed so we can get the feed setup for the nighttime animals before sunset.”

I grabbed my cupcake and just as I did Pinkie popped up with a little white paper sack. “These are for you and Fluttershy for later, on the house. And this is for Harry for pulling the cart.” She handed me a honey-dipped donut. “If I were you, Asta, I’d stop in the forest on the way home. That way you can try talking to the Shadow Ponies with no other ponies around and you won’t cause a scene,” she whispered in my ear.

“Thanks, Pinkie. I owe you one,” I whispered back. I looked at Rose who had an eyebrow raised and arms crossed.

“Nice to meet you, Rose. Again, sorry about your coffee. Gotta jet,” I wheeled around fast and looked at Pinkie and was waving by as I walked along I wasn’t paying attention and walked right into a familiar farm pony. “Ow. What is today? Bump into everypony you know day?”

“Ow!, ma tail. Watch where yer goin ya-” Applejack looked at me. “Oh Asta, Sorry about that but ya should really be payin more attention to where yer goin.”

“Ya alright there AJ?” came a deep southern male accent.

‘Wait a minute. Applejack had an older brother in the TV show. Never talked much, big red fur-coated, and tall. I think his name was Big something?’

“I’m fine Big Mac,” Applejack got up and dusted herself off.

“Who’s that fella that ran into ya?” Big Mac in a confusion.

I looked over to the tall fellow next to Applejack. He had orange hair and green eyes just a little darker than Applejack’s. He wore a plain solid red button-down shirt and old tatter blue jeans with worn heavy cowboy boots.

“Big Mac this is Asta. He’s the new farm hand Ah was tellin ya about that’ll be startin work on the farm in the next few weeks,” Applejack helps me up of the ground. “Asta, this is mah older brother Big Mcintosh. Everypony just calls him Big Mac for short, even though he ain’t short anymore.”

“Hmmm.” He was looking me up and down the whole time Applejack introduced us.

“AJ, I don’t believe that this is the same fella ya told us about,” He pointed at me. “Even if he just got out of the hospital like ya say he wouldn’t be walking around on a cane if he was as strong and as tough as ya said he was.”

“Look here man,” I pointed back at the big guy. “If I didn’t have this thing then Fluttershy wouldn’t even let me leave through the front door at all. Yes, I can stand on my own for a few hours but any longer and I do need the damn thing. Besides, this thing,” I tossed my cane up and caught it by the midsection. “Has another purpose besides being an awesome looking walking stick.” I shook the cane in his face and he didn’t take to kindly from the scowl he gave me.

“Alright Mister, If yer gonna be workin on the farm then yer gonna have to prove to me that yer really as strong as AJ says ya are,” he sat down at the nearest table put his elbow on it and raised his hand to me.

‘Dude seriously. Do I really have to arm wrestle my soon to be boss’s older brother just to prove myself?’

“Are you alright with this Applejack?” I looked to her worried a bit and she nodded in agreement.

“Mac’s an Apple after all. He’s just as stubborn as Ah am. Maybe even more so.” She cocked an eyebrow at her older brother. “Just, be careful with him Asta. Don’t damage beyond bruises. Ah need his help on the farm in big ways right now.”

“You got boss,” Man that felt good to say again. Nero flew over to the cart and landed on Harry’s back. I sat in the chair across from Big Mac and put my arm on the table and grasped his hand. “Last chance to back out man.”

“Ah won’t back down unless ya make me,” he squinted with a bit a dark grin.

“I’m not going to make any headway with anyone unless I prove myself every time,” I huffed. “Applejack, can you give Harry his donut for me?”

“Aaa… sure.” She grabbed the bag Pinkie gave me and reached into it and then gave the bear his treat. Harry happily gobbled up the pastry and then licked Applejack. “Ewww. Ya’ll can start whenever ya want,” Applejack wiped her face with a conveniently placed towel.

“Show me what ya got little fella,” Big Mac started to put a lot of force into his arm as his muscles tensed up and he tried to push my arm down. My arm didn’t even move an inch. Mac tried for at least three minutes to move my arm to no avail. I was getting tired of this so I started to push back. Mac tried all he could to keep me from making progress to the point his face was as red as his shirt from the strain he was under.

Thud!

“It’s over big man,” I grabbed my cane and got up. “You should ice your arm down to keep it from getting to sore.”

Nero flew over to my shoulder. Applejack walked over to her big brother and smiled smugly at him. “Ah told he was stronger than me. Now look at where yer stubbornness got ya. I’ll go see if I can get some ice from the Cakes for ya.” She walked into the bakery.

I looked at Big Mac. “Ah have to say sorry for don’t ya. Nice to meet ya Asta and I’ll be glad to have yer help out on the farm when the time comes.” He held out his other hand.

I took hold of it firmly and shook it. “Can’t wait to start. And I get looking after your little sister. I have a younger brother back home. Of course, I’m the middle child,” His pupils shrank at that fact. “Don’t worry. I was always the strongest of the three of us. Much like Applejack is for you three.” He shrank back at that comment as Applejack came back with an ice pack and placed on Mac's arm. He winced back even more from the soreness and the cold.

“So, where ya off to?” Applejack sat down looking to the cart.

“Back to the cottage now actually,” I grabbed the cane and got to my feet. “I came into town to see Rarity and Spike as well as to get feed for the animals originally. But I ran into our party pony first and promised her I‘d come by here after I was finished seeing the others. I got to see Twilight and you guys, not to mention Rose over there,” I pointed with my thumb. “Technically, I’ve met up with everypony except Rainbow Dash.”

“Ah’m sure she’s around here somewhere,” Applejack patted her big brother on his back giving him some support for his efforts in the arm wrestling. “She’s either sleeping on a cloud or in a tree someplace.”

“Not surprised there,” I pulled myself into the cart. “What are you two up to then?”

“Actually, we were headed home ourselves,” Applejack pointed to their apple cart. “It looks like Ah’m gonna be the one to pull the cart this time thanks to you.” I turned red in embarrassment as she giggled and points at me.

‘You know she’s really cute when she does that. No bad. I haven’t even asked Fluttershy out yet so there’s no way I’m going to ask at Applejack until I have a certain answer.’

“So when are ya gonna ask Shy out?” She bluntly stated. Big Mac was sent into shock.

“Is it really that obvious that I like her that much?” I turned as red as a tomato.

“Ah’d say it’s more than obvious sugarcube,” Applejack got up and leaned on the cart. “Ya pretty much clicked with her from the moment the two of ya met. The animals all respect and like except for that rabbit of her’s. She barely left your side when ya was in the hospital and she kept strict watch over ya since then.”

“I was going to ask after I got off the cane and got a little more stable in my life here but-,” I looked up to the sky to see a few pegasi flying. Applejack got off the cart and Harry started to pull away. Applejack quickly got Big Mac and their cart and followed us.

“Ain’t no but to it,” Big Mac interjected. “If ya wait then somepony else will come along and ask her before ya or she think ya don’t think of her the way she thinks of you.”

‘Dudes right. I hated when I’m too scared or thick to do things on my own but that why I have friends. I used to turn to my older brother Allen for things like this.’

“Thanks man,” I looked at the Applejacks older brother. I then sensed the three ki’s underneath their cart. I was thoroughly fed up with these spies at this point. It was high time I met these guys and had a serious talk with them. I hopped off the cart to the side to everyone's surprise. “Can you two make sure Harry and Nero get back to the cottage please?”

“Where are ya goin of to?” Applejack looked to me worriedly as I walked toward the forest.

“I’m going for a walk to do some thinking,” I twirled my cane as I walked on. “If I’m back at Fluttershy’s place after dark, tell her not to worry and also tell her that I have something important to tell her.”

“Asta you can’t just-” Applejack started to walk after me to try and stop me but Big Mac grabs her shoulder. She looked to her older brother who shook his head. “Nnope. Give him some space AJ. He knows what his feelings are but I think he’s goin to deal with somethin out of our jurisdiction.”

I nodded to the man and he nodded back. I then continued my walk into the forest, Nero flew from where she’d perched herself in the cart to my shoulder. “Still gonna act as the chaperone so Fluttershy won’t be as upset with me?”

Hoo. Nero nodding a look of concern in her own mind.

I continued to walk into the forest for around ten to fifteen minutes. I knew this would put me a good ways away from any passers-by. The shadows of the trees also worked in my favor. Most would think going somewhere where shadow movers can easily hide would be a bad idea but for someone like me who can sense ki, it was an advantage. If my trackers think they have the advantage, that'll make them overconfident in themselves and more likely to miss themselves up. Not that it matters since I have much better control over my own strength now. I stopped and Nero flew to a nearby low hanging branch to watch the events unferral over the next few moments. I sat down under the tree Nero had perched in. I didn’t know if I was going to have to fight or not but I was more than ready to face ponies this time around. These three will definitely be better than that regiment of guards I fought and I still had two other major restrictions working against me. One. How much time I could spend on my leg, Two. Not wanting to hurt these guys and give them a reason to come after me.

I felt the three pursuers circling me so I stood up and I threw my cane up and caught it in the midsection. I pointed the handle out and called out. “I know you’re there now come out!”

Suddenly three shadows come out and began to rise from the ground.

“Great, Luna personal black ops unit.” I rolled my eyes. “Shadowbolts if I remember correctly.”

Next Chapter: Asta Vs Shabowbolts Estimated time remaining: 47 Hours, 22 Minutes